Automatic speed regulator



June 13, 1944.

AUTOMATIC SPEED REGULATOR Filed Sept. 18, 1942 RALPH T'. WALKER BY 4 T rOPA/sr Patented June 13, 1944 UNITED` STATES FATEN-Tl- OFFICE 2,351,245 i l' AUTOMATIC srmin aEGULAToa Ralph Thomas walker, NashvliglTenn. v, application september 18, 194,2, serial No. 458,812

@claims (c1. 18osan This invention relates to means for automatically 'limiting and controlling the maximum or peak speed of a motor vehicle.

The primary object of the invention is to provide means whereby the owner, the authorities, or other persons, may predetermine and preset the maximum possible speed of a vehicle such as an automobile or truck so that the Vehicle cannot be driven over that speed. A further object is to provide means of this kind associatedwith the usual speedometer and fuel control of the engine in such manner that the driver will have full control over the vehicle at any speed less than the maximum but which, when this maximum speed is attained, will automatically retard the engine to idling speed and require that the driver release the throttle or accelerator in order to again assume control of the engine. Another object is to provide, in combination with a speed responsive electrical switch, a speed control or regulator mechanism of this kind which may be readily assembled upon the vehicle and engine and adjusted to the desired peak speed after which, through provision of means to this end, the control may not be tampered with by the driver or other unauthorized person or at least without leaving evidence of such work.

These and other objects of the invention will be made apparent in the course of the following detailed description of certain preferred embodiments of the invention, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the fuel or throttle valve control unit as assembled upon the carburetor and with a part of the cover member broken away to disclose interior parts of the unit.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal cross section taken along the line 2-2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a schematic wiring diagram of the electrical circuit of the entire control or regulator mechanism, including certain conventional speedometer elements and elements of a speed responsive electrical switch assembled and associated therewith.

The invention comprises the control, regulator or release unit B assembled in a case or housing 33 which is secured, as by means of an adjustable clamp 34 and tension bolt 35, to the upstanding manifold member F wherein the usual butterfly throttle valve G is located. Ordinarily said valve G is operated by a foot acceleratorl or hand throttle (not shown) through the rod H to control, in direct proportion to the degree at which it is opened, the fuel input and consequent Fas 'Shaft I I.

speed of the engine. AIn accordance with my invention however the valve shaft 36 carrying said valve G is provided, 'within the housing, with an operating member -or cam 3l secured in place by clamp screw v38 and which has an arcuate margin 39 concentric about the axis of shaft 35. This member 3l is normally` urged in one direction, which causes vthe'valve to almost close, by the retractile coil spring 40 arranged as shown, and the margin 39 has' a notch 4I with which is normally engaged'the hooked end 42 of 'a latch t3 pivotally connected .at 44 to the throttle rod H. Said throttle rod extends slidably through a guide into the case 33- tangentially with respect to the member 3,1 and Vthe latch 43 is thus adapted normally' off-its own weight to maintain its hooked end :4Z-fin engagement with the notch 4I so that a' pullon the rod I-Lcaused by the manipulation of the foot accelerator or hand throttle, will oscillate` member 31 and open the valve G and increasethe engine speed in usual mannen@ f A solenoid 46 is secured Withinthe case with its vertically reciprocating plunger 4l arranged immediately over the latch 43 and engaged therewith by an eye or'loop 4,8 having free sliding engagement with'the latch. The usual endwise operation ofthe latch'will thus in no way be interfered with but, when the solenoid is energized, the resultant upward pull upon the plunger 4l will raise the latch free of the member 31 and the spring 40 will then immediately return the member to a position at which the valve is closed. When the solenoid is deenergized it will drop the latch back upon the arcuate margin 39 of said member 3l. However, the hook 32 will not again engage the notch 4I to resume control of the valve position until the foot accelerator or hand throttle is returned to idling position so that the latch may slide inward to reengage the hook as will be evident.

A cover 49 is removably secured by screws 5l) to the open side of the case 33 to protect the parts.

The invention as described is designed for use with any conventional form of speed responsive electrica1 switch as mounted upon or associated with a speedometer.

Such a switch is indicated at A in Figure 3, as mounted on the speedometer C having the hand I0 extended from its shaft I I for rotation around the graduated dial I2. The switch includes a pointer 2| journaled on the speedometer shaft II back of the hand I0, and insulated from the A control contact 21 on the pointer lters Patent is:

2| is arranged to intercept a complementary conleads from the other terminal of the solenoid 46 j to the journal of the pointer 2| where electrical Y connection is made to the control contact 21.

In operation, as the speedometerV hand I0 reaches a point where its brush or contact 28 makes electrical contact with the control conshaft and extended vertically therefrom with its plane perpendicular to the shaft, the cam having a free arcuate margin concentric with the shaft and there being a notch cut in the said margin, means for normally rotating the valve shaft and cam to close the throttle valve, a latch member pivoted to the working end of the throttle rod and adaped to releasably engage the marginal notch of the cam for holding the cam and shaftl as rotated contrary to the pull of the Vmeans provided for normally rotating these elements for closing the throttle valve, thereby releasably holding the throttle Valve in opened position.

2. In a device according to claim 1, means dependent upon the speed of the vehicle for releasing the latch from the notch of the cam, to enable the valve shaft to rotate back to its normal Y position for closing the throttle valve under the tact 21, the circuit is completed from battery 52 I to the solenoid 46, the latter is energized and lifts the latch 43 from the member 31'allowing vthe spring 4U to"k assert itself` and immediately close the valve G to throttle the 'engine to idling speed." The `point jatwhich this action takes place over the scale' on the speedometer dial |2,

and therefore the peak possible speed which may be attained before thelimiting action takes'pl'ace, may be readily'preselected by adjustment of the pointer'2l as has been described. Once the engine speed has 'thus beenV automatically reduced the driver must return the -foot accelerator or hand throttle; to normal idling` position before he can resumefcontrol'of the engine. However,

Within the Vspeed' limitset by thedevice the driver has complete'control of fuel admission for rapid acceleration, hard' pulling Ton hills," and the like.

AWhile I lhave herein set forth vcertainpreferred embodiments@ of imyinventi'on, it is '.un'd'erstood that I'may vary-frm the same in minor details within the scope 'of the appendedciaims. Hav?- ing now therefore fully described my invention, what I claim asnew and desire to secure by Let# v1'. In ombination With'the thrbttlevalve' and valve shaft and the throttle rod of a motor vehicle `internal'combustionengine, a device of the kind described, the same comprising a iiat segmental camjanchored by'A its angularr'endto the valve pull of the means provided for that purpose.

3. In combination with the throttle valve and valve shaft and the throttle rod of a motorvehicle 'driven by an internal combustion engine, a device of the kind described,thesamecomprising an elongated element anchored at its lower end' tothe valve shaft and extended vertically therefrom, th upper free margin of the said eiementbeing of arcuate formation and extended transversely above the valve shaft and there being a' notch formedinV the said margin, a spring for'norm'ally vrotatingthe valve shaft and attachedV element s as to close the throttle valve, a latching member extended from the Working end of the throttle rod and'adapted to releasably engageV the marginal notch of the saidelement extended from the valve shaft, forv holding said elementand the attached valve shaft as rotated contrary tothe action of the 'said' spring for holding the throttle valve in an opened position. 4. In a device according to claim 3,' means dependent upon'the speed of the vehicle for releasing the latch from the marginal notch ofthe said element extended from the valve shaft forre storing the valve shaftand element extended therefrom to the normal action of the said spring, forv returning the elements to'their normal vposition for closing the throttle 'v alve.

`RALPH THOMAS WALKER. Y 

